How Smart are they?

grizzlyjack

grizzlyjack

New Member
Messages
14
Location
San Francisco
Hey Guys,

I've had my Leo for a little less than an year. My friend asked me yesterday how "smart" they where.

"Like on a scale...are they above rats , but below cats?" I didn't really have an answer since I only have one, and I think mine is pretty intelligent (of course I'm biased since he's mine).

So to settle a bet I am asking the group....just how intelligent are Leopard Geckos ?
 
malt_geckos

malt_geckos

Don't Say It's Impossible
Messages
3,971
Location
Gainesville, Fl
Well,
Not sure how smart they are but our female, when I lift up her hide, she stands up so I can get my hand under her to pick her up. She loves her back rubbed and when I run it with my finger, she arches her back. Lol. They all know I mean food too. I would say smarter than a mouse, maybe not a larger rat/rabbit.
 
N

NickBoudin

Guest
I have a video of mine trying to escape from his tank at night, he tryes to pull the slider door by digging with his feet at it. He's escaped 2 times now, and it wont happen agian :) I'd say they're pretty smart. But obviously this is from personal experience.
 
Ipsl

Ipsl

New Member
Messages
622
Location
The Bay CA
I notice with my guy he's really mellow until I put him down on like a desk than he gets a little excitement in his gait. Plus he acts aloof when hes not really in the mood to come out. He seems pretty smart to me Smart as a rat but not a bunny maybe?:main_robin:

Some one should make a maze and stuff!!!!! That would be friggan awsome?!?!:D :D :D
 
Ipsl

Ipsl

New Member
Messages
622
Location
The Bay CA
Well a maze can test memory and maybe the old glass floor trick might determine abstract thought, or a mirror. Conditioned responses are already proven which is a kind of memory. Thats a good start I think.
 
P

PatsBrat

Guest
Unlike our cat, our gecko DOESN'T climb all over the counters, DOESN'T shed all over the house, DOESN'T play all night keeping us up. As far as I 'm concerned, Muschu is a flippin' genius....SHE is guaranteed NOT to wind up going to live with my daughter lol
Seriously though, I think for all base needs (food, water, shelter) the geckos are very adaptable and seem to have memory of where things "should" be....
 
Leopardbreeder

Leopardbreeder

New Member
Messages
1,606
Location
PA
Yea, I decided to put the bowls of all my geckos in the back of the bin instead of in the front like normal and every single day in 4 of the bins the bowls of water were upside down and the calcium was on the other side of the cage. Not sure if thats intelligence, but its still pretty cool.
 
atheris978

atheris978

Lucky Dragon Geckos
Messages
31
Location
South Florida
Smarter than we realize

Over the past few years, I've had female geckos ( maybe females are smarter than males ??? ) that learned to escape from their cage. Once they figure it out, I have to move them to a new cage with a different design.
If I don't ,they escape within 12 hours everytime.
But not to worry, they don't share their knowledge with on another.
I've had cages that I house 2 females together and one figures out the "key" to escape. I've made the mistake of returning the escapee to the same cage and only the escapee is the reoffender. None of the " follow me ... "
At least they don't organize the revolt !
 
Grinning Geckos

Grinning Geckos

Tegan onboard.
Messages
2,521
Location
Chicago-land
They are fairly smart, and have a limited memory. They can learn who takes care of them, what actions mean food is coming, and a few other things. They are not as smart as a rat. Rats are quite intelligent (as are mice) and can be taught some pretty complex tricks.
 
T

TWC

Guest
i have some that seem quite dumb, and some to be bright. not the smartes thigs out there though, but they definitely are smart enough to have a personality.
 
cheeseball705

cheeseball705

New Member
Messages
528
Location
cattasauqua, pa
my ex had rats, and she used to tell me how esay ther were to train and all and how they often showed thier personalites alot. if someone bothered her or she dint ge along with that person the rat picked up on it and often responded negativly towards that person. most of my geckos i have now are juviniles and subadults still but i dont veiw them as very intellegent even though i m uch rather own them than rats.
 
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GeckoStud

GeckoStud

Fatty Fatty Boomballaty
Messages
2,351
Location
Western PA
I don't think leos are very intelligent. I think they kinda just react and remember the stuff most important to them. IE: food, enemies, and escape. The know I mean food and trust me, plus handling them alot gets them used to you and they don't view you as a predator, but rather the waiter. I have some very personable geckos tho, cute as a button and act as though they want attention, or maybe their just hungry. Either way I still like the little egg heads :).
 
G

Gecko

Guest
The most intellegent lizards are monitors. Typically larger lizards/longer lived are smarter. While smaller flighty "food" are less. This "MIGHT" be due to those things not haveing the attention to be tested though. Some monitors can count apparently. I forget if it's up to 7 or something. Some single digit number.

Lizards though are nothing close to a rat.
 
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